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Linda Harris spent a lifetime caring for others, even during her darkest days.

The young mother left her job at Thatcher Glass Manufacturing Co. in Elmira to care for her family, but later earned a nursing degree from Corning Community College, said her husband, Richard Harris of Erin. That was in the mid-1970s.

"Looking back through the yearbook, Linda always wanted to be in the health field," said Joyce Austin Shutts, of Rochester, one of Linda's childhood friends. "She was part of the Future Nurses Club."

Linda worked at the Chemung County Nursing Facility for more than 20 years, retired at 65 and continued to work per diem until her own health problems forced her to quit.

"In 2011, she was diagnosed with lung cancer," Richard said. "She worked until she had to quit."

Quiet and unassuming, Linda enjoyed caring for others, her family said.

"She was always a quiet presence, but she was always cheerful," Joyce said. "I don't remember her being out of sorts or angry much. I just remember her being a nice, steady friend. Whenever we were together, it was just great being together."

Linda died Sept. 2. She was 73.

Linda was born July 29, 1941, the fourth of five children born to Francis and Eleanor Cisco of Corning. She was the only girl.

"One of my early childhood memories was a spat we had, I was 5 and Linda was 6. Our older brother Ray set up a makeshift boxing ring and armed us with leather boxing gloves," said Paul Cisco, Linda's brother. "We duked it out and I hit my sister in the stomach, which made her cry, which in turn made me cry. There was no winner."

Their childhood was filled with fond memories of chores, pets and mischief, Paul said.

"One of sis's fondest memories was our family horse, Duke. We gave this horse sugar and treats," Paul said.

The Cisco siblings were also pranksters. When asked to get beer for family members during gatherings, the children would open the bottles — sometimes take a sip or two — and refill the bottles with water and recap them. "We were about 5 or 6 at the time," Paul said.

Their parents died young, Paul said. The siblings were raised by different family members, but stayed close throughout their childhood and adult lives.

After her graduation from Northside High School in Corning in 1959, Linda got married. Her first husband died shortly thereafter, the family said.

Richard met Linda while she was dating his brother. Linda's relationship with the brother was short-lived, but Richard liked Linda.

"We were young at the time. She was easy to talk to," he said.

The couple would have shared 45 years of marriage next month.

For about a year, Richard and Linda made their home in Horseheads. Linda worked at Thatcher, while Richard worked at General Electric Foundry in Elmira.

"When the boys were born, we moved to Erin," Richard said. His brother sold them a piece of property along North Greenbush Road, where they have lived since 1972.

"We moved here right after the flood," Richard recalled.

In Erin, the couple welcomed two more children, daughters Lynne Perkins of Willseyville and Eleanor "Ellie" Van Ryn of Clay.

Linda's greatest joy was spending time with her family, her husband said. She was happiest when the house was filled with children, grandchildren and dogs.

"My mother always treated everyone's children like they were her own," said Richard II. She really enjoyed everyone and was friendly to whomever came into her life. She was a mom to everyone."

"Whatever we were doing in our lives, she was always a part of it," Lynne said of her mother.

"My mom and I would play cards at the kitchen table and we would talk about everything and sometimes nothing at all," Ellie said. "Other times we would laugh and laugh over some goofiness that had occurred. I could talk to my mom about anything and she would listen, not give advice but just listen, which is what I needed most of the time."